Man In Recent Dreadlock Cutting Photo Controversy Gives HIS Side Of The Story

Last week, social media broke out in debate and backlash of photos and social media posts that surfaced from the Crushers Club program in Chicago, Illinois after Jay-Z, Roc Nation & the NFL donated money as part of their new Inspire Change program which showed a white woman smiling as she cuts a boy's dreadlocks with the caption that "it's symbolic of change and their desire for a better life."

The person photoed in the controversial picture, Kobe Richardson sits down with Ebro in the Morning to give his side of the story, and discuss the topic.

Comments • 218

Sally helped saved a lot of black young men from going the wrong path. Yet most of you black people care about is some damn hair. Shot 14 times and survived. Not many black men can say that. I'm happy for Kobe still here living a better life. Really so disappointed in my black people. Care more about some damn hair style instead of these black men lives.

I’m not gonna lie my first impression is to think this kid is SLOW. But Chicago’s inner city is intense and he is a product of his environment. Prayers to him. This kid got his dread for ALL Wrong reasons so it’s only right he cuts them off and grow them back when he understands why we grow our hair out.

But you know what ? _No matter_ *what* this man has to say, his side of the story AND HIS OPINIONS and angle on it will be negated by the RADICAL blacks who's agenda is *_"RACISM"_*...These LOUDMOUTHS would like to silence this man because it negates their racist agenda.

It's only "intimidating" because the hair isn't straightened.. if you knew anything at all about it, you'd know that the Rastafari is very humble and in their religion, they pray to Jah- they are the most humble people in Caribbean/Ethiopian heritage... but America- fuxking exploit everything smh. He's embarrassing and dont need to wear them anyway, so good he cut them off, because he is ignorant about them and shouldn't be wearing them in the first place

@blakefeeldz1 just because a group of people decide to stick something in their head does not change the original meaning of it. If these brainwashed AAs believe everything about being Black is "bad" then they will undoubtedly associate everything that is with it as something "bad," but that doesn't make it true nor so. This is why they should NOT wear them at all because they have disassociated the meaning and original context of its use due to ignorance and unfamiliarity. In other words, it is another form of appropriation.

ThIs is why dont rock our dreads.. you Yankees dont respect what Rasta really means and stands for. To you all, its a style, but to us, it's a HERITAGE... and you @@!$ think everything is a fuxking fashion show... you are not a part of our culture... you dont even know wtf youre talking about

@ 15:30 The information isn't hard to obtain. Yes, ALL colors/creeds of people get shot by police. It's just that only incidents with black victims get publicized into international news stories. Almost every day a white man is shot by police. If DANIEL SHAVERS was a black man, everybody would know his name.... instead his egregious execution (at the hands of a cop who walked despite video evidence) flies under the radar. All lives matter!

@handzupinc They don't matter any less than any other lives. Just as many white or Mexican men are shot by police every year, usually more. Only difference is there is not a national story for those victims.

sorry I can't do it. I repsect this dude because I know chicago is a city of it's own. Ain't no way I could try to understand what he had to do to survive. Even so, it's like I said, white people get to have piercings, gauge earrings, tattoos, and long hairstyles. Don't tell me locks are intimidating. If you're intimidated then you need to work out those racial/prejudice issues you have going on in your mind. 💯

People in this comment section is missing the big picture. If We(Black People) took care of our people / family this guy wouldn't have went to Sally for a haircut. The real question is where was any of our people during this time? . It seems too much of the blame is pointed in the wrong direction. Listening to Kobe makes me think his entire circle failed him and people wonder why there's so many deaths in Chicago?

@ 15:30 is part of the problem. The longer young black kids are led to believe this (that other colors don't get shot by police) the more harm will be done and the more excuses will be made for idiotic behavior.

The Crusher's club sounds like a recreation center. In addition, the club is teaching kids to box and plant which could be recreationally therapeutic, but are they being educated on using these tools outside of the club to maybe bring positive changes to their community, or even establishing a career of their own from what they've learned? I would like to hear the success stories of people who have actually gone through the program and is now a progressive independent adult, because I'm really not buying this BS. This interview was extremely watered down.

"Yea..let's get another "brother" to bail us out once again. Have anybody interviewed the lady who cut his dreads? I understand that this program is mandatory for the men who have gotten into trouble. So they are forced to go there. Do they have therapists there? After they leave there, then what? Will they have a job? A trade? It was sickening to watch that young man praise this woman. I hope when he is done with that program, he is able to do more then just fish, plant flowers, and hang out with cops. If not, he could end up right back where he started.

Why do black people so obsessed in always having a white savior? Feel for kobe, looking back for copz/ gangz, fi ding refuge in a halfway house, while trying to avoid the penitentiary and cemetery up ahead in the distance.

This brother was calling that white woman a god...a freaking god on social media. That Crushers Club is a brainwashing cult facility. It's not dreads that the police target it's black/brown skin. Rich white folks helping out vulnerable innercity youth- Penn State anyone? Everyone but Jay Z coming out of the woodwork to explain away this devilish action. The capitive will be led to captivity. Even my societal conditioning has been conditioned. I'm more than positive that there are many AfricanAmerican foundations in Chicago that could have used this money than an All Lives Matter Police charity.

Hey so since your such a supporter of hers do you also think the blacks in Chicago need a curfew and that trump should send in the army to stop gang violence ?? Why are they only asking about his dreads shes said much worse things smh i hate when people do that

He went to the organization because the COURTS/government made him go. This young man needs black men role models in his community. My brothers please reach out and educate this young man about his real culture not the TV culture.

R because it’s a relevant comparison. How can you be upset with roc nation working with the nfl and not Eric Reid. For someone who feels oppressed by the NFL he sure was in a thunderstorm last night going harder for that shield on his jersey than he has for social injustice. Show me a pic of him fighting social injustice during a storm and my mind will change. The hypocrisy is hilarious to me

R so he needs the nfl to survive? He can’t do anything else besides play football? Why not retire and focus on social injustice, I mean he hasn’t done much on that front since he started kneeling. He needs the league more than roc nation from what I see.

Wow this interview is unbelievable, literally!!! OK he's 19, Ok.. they teach them boxing, OK... they cook with them and they take them fishing ..OK.., they cut off locks... OOOOK ... what’s missing? Oh yeah.. A GOT DAM JOB!!!! working at a flower farm many be good while your in the program but how many flower farms are in the urban community. Here’s a better one, How many black people do you see working in flower shops. Here’s a thought, What about prepping them to take the GED/AHD or learning to write a resume and dress for an interview or using proper FN diction. What about budgeting/money management. So now the new model is that we need white women to raise black men…? What the Hell is happening at Hot 97, Ebro if you guys keep putting it all on the line to cover Jay Z, Ebro in the morning will quickly become the new FOX NEWS!!!

@See LS I agree its not a binay choice, you can have both, but dont lose site of the issue. The issue that most have with THIS program is it's racist stigma and rejection of cultural and in some cases rejection of religious inclusivness. Because their currently fashionable populaity, many forget that locks are a a very relevent aspect of Rastafarianism. Lock are associated with the Nazarite vow and associated with Samson, the strongest man in the Bible. Yet programs like the boys and girls club offers both and has done it for year without promoting such cultural offensiveness. Take a look at the famous diverse Alumni of The Boy's & Girl's Club. No one program is perfect but you can't argue with their Proven track record of affectiveness. Why not give them the money?

Siammarcus it’s not a binary choice bruh. Did you catch the part that this club was an AFTER SCHOOL program? You act like someone is arguing against the importance of education, no the argument is that there are other things as important as education. Being a functioning, civil, and disciplined kid in an school environment is critical to actually learning anything while at school. If throwing books at these kids were the answer they wouldn’t need to come there.

I understand you point clearly. Still at the end of the day what is our goal for these valued youth that have deviated for their intended course? Is it to plot an alternate course of sight-seeing of sunshine and rainbows? No!!, It’s to get them back on track... It to motivate them to completing their education goals, securing exceptional employment and become respectable self-sufficient, productive member of society, right? OK let talk FACTS: According to the 2018 US. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is roughly a $270 DIFFERENTIAL between the salary of the African American Male in comparison to everyone else or every other race. The only group that is payed less than the African American Male... is the African American Female. Again, let’s talk FACTS: According to the New York Times article “The $15 Minimum Wage Is here. Why we need $33 an Hour.” Congress is trying to raise the minimum wage to $15.00 by the end of this year. Yet according to this secret recession that the Gerrymander-er and Thief (Trump) has placed us in, the average family will need twice that, plus three more dollars to survive. Again, I get your point, but please DON'T MISS THE FOREST FOR THE TREE'S!!! Yet I must say, that I do agree with your last statement. Your are right as it relates to your club, …they shouldn’t have to solve everything... but they should address the most relevant thing that currently plagues our community …and that thing is education. But if you don’t think that education is most relevant thing as it relates to our people/community, then please tell me, what the hell is...

Siammarcus not sure how much you know about boxing but in addition to what you said it builds confidence, character, helps improve mental health, physical health, builds camaraderie, etc. Obviously those are all tools valuable in any job or position. My point however was not that boxing or gardening is the it all be all in solving underserved youth in Chicago. My point is why does this organization need to have a job placement program to be impactful? There are hundreds of ways to make an impact and this is what this org choose. Maybe the best way to connect to these youth in that community isn’t a job skill but a constructive outlet for aggression. This organization doesn’t have to solve everything to mean everything to those involved.

DO ANY OF YOU LIVE IN CHICAGO? Dreads are cultural for black americans in general, but also VERY related to gang affiliation in Chicago's South and West Side. Even more so when you are aged 14 - 25. If you aren't aware of this you are speaking WELL out of turn. This young man is trying to change the trajectory of his life. Guess what, HE wanted to cut his hair and sorry it had to be the white lady. The white lady that has been guiding and showing this young mind love Mon - Fri for how knows how long? My god...I lived in Chicago and guess what, these communities need ANYONE who is willing and brave enough to help.

I understand this but from my experience the only way for a black person to break from being associated with gangs and crime is to not be black in the first place. That's an impossible task to complete! Let every gang member on the South and Westside cut their hair into high top fades and watch those be stereotyped within 2-3 years. It's not what's on your head, it's what's in it.

gosh..... this guy (who actually grew up and almost got killed in Chicago) is trying to explain what locks mean in CHICAGO west/south side specifically. Also...all these comments about this young man's metal ability is absolutely disgusting. Again WHAT HAVE YOU GUYS DONE FOR CHICAGO"S KIDS??? Bunch of keyboard warriors all up in social media and not actually doin a damn thing. My friend is white and assistant principle in Austin (you from CHI you know the area) ...sooooo should she not be up in there helping the kids? Let me tell you something jack, not ONE of her kids was ever questioning her whiteness when she was genuinely trying her best and they could tell. LASTLY (since I lived in Chicago for 11 years) - my god you really don't know how desperate and dangerous it is out there and how much it effects these young kids. I can't imagine the PTSD all these kids have - they ALL have had friends killed by gun violence.

I'm tired of these orgs leeching off Black pain and suffering, collecting millions of federal tax free funds, and only giving hot meals and bootstrapism lectures in return, you heard it from that boys mouth, they don't let him and other Blacks around the donation money, those White people collect millions from the NFL and Private donors and Black folks don't see any of those millions.

It's time we understand we are owed Reparations by America. Black folks are owed ownership!! Stop depending on these white owned .Orgs for moral support, because thats all they're offering. The government needs to fix the generational trauma from slavery, Jim Crow, The war on crack, Red-lining.

Celebrity, the newest drug in America- gotta habit? Jay is all about coming up off of blacks ie selling crack to blacks, Barney's racial profiling, Brooklyn gentrification. Jay doesn't even own Roc Nation. Live Nation does. And Jay needs the NFL concerts, music (songs of the season) to meet his Live Nation contract obligations. Jay doesn't own Roc Nation Sports either as others have the controlling interest in that endeavour. Jay is the type of brother that would have owned slaves during slavery. Been against the Civil Rights Movement. Jay just blamed single parent homes for police abuse- a yes massa moment. What would MLK say? What would Malcolm say? What would Marcus Garvey say? What would Nat Turner say? What would any self respecting critical thinking brother or sister say?

Ebro trolling him to his face with that shirt lol. These weak minded black folks is like retarded chromosomes for our whole race. They got us looking fucked up out here 🤦🏾‍♂️

*Edit*

Posted that comment before I watched the video, I just got through it and that young man got me questioning my whole stance on the loc cutting picture and the cotton picking picture. I respect him and am touched by his story. The lady has explaining to do about some things tho. She tweeted once that Donald Trump was the best thing to happen to black people and has a very sketchy track record when it comes to liking racist and bigoted tweets but as for the young man, I apologize for everything I said before this edit... I wish you all the best in this program and in life as a whole. Godspeed.